Baseball Notes: Valentine says Marlins never offered him job

Bobby Valentine said he was never offered the Florida Marlins' manager job last October, contrary to speculation at the time.

Valentine, who works for ESPN, said the rumors were "an unnecessary nuisance" for him and Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez.

The Marlins' front office did little to discount the rumors at the end of last season. Owner Jeffrey Loria was disappointed that the Marlins missed the playoffs, and team president David Samson would not endorse Gonzalez for guiding the team to 87 wins, the third-best total in franchise history.

Valentine has managed the Texas Rangers and New York Mets and in Japan.

Yankees. New York catcher Francisco Cervelli, who turned 24 yesterday, sustained a concussion after being hit in the helmet by a pitch during the third inning of the Yankees' game against the Toronto Blue Jays yesterday in Tampa.

This is Cervelli's second concussion since the Yankees won the World Series in November.

Cervelli, the designated hitter in the game, was able to walk off the field after being struck by Zech Zinicola's pitch. He was taken to a hospital for a precautionary CT scan, which was normal.

Cervelli suffered a concussion in a winter-league game in November.

Twins. Minnesota closer Joe Nathan should be "fine" after leaving yesterday's game in Fort Myers, Fla., with soreness and tightness in his surgically repaired right elbow, manager Ron Gardenhire said.

He was second in the majors last season with 47 saves.

Indians. Spring training is over for Cleveland veteran Jason Grilli and rookie Jordan Brown.

Brown will have arthroscopic surgery early next week in Cleveland to repair a torn medial meniscus in his right knee, trainer Lonnie Soloff said. Grilli is seeking a second opinion on an injury to his right quadriceps.

Grilli was hurt while running on Friday, just before Brown went down during outfield drills.

Cubs. Angel Guzman, who overcame years of injury problems to finally have the kind of season Chicago had envisioned, is out indefinitely with a torn ligament in his pitching shoulder. He appeared in 55 games in 2009, going 3-3 with a 2.95 ERA.